THE shipping industry must harness all that digitisation can yield if companies are to survive in future, says Rajesh Unni, CEO of Singapore-based shipmanager Synergy Group.
'Shipping has been conservative for far too long,' said Capt Unni. 'It is time for us to welcome change and emerge from the shadows. Technology unlocks potential, but the digital world and digital shipping must be embraced.'
Capt Unni also serves as CEO Alpha Ori Technologies (AOT), established in 2017 to help the maritime sector address many of these challenges.
Critical to AOT's portfolio is SMARTShip, an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that enables the onboard operation of multiple systems with varying degrees of autonomy.
'AOT has already rolled out 30 SMARTShips and has another 60 in the pipeline at various stages of the set-up process,' he said.
Capt Unni said he believes most shipping companies are risk averse and, as a result, are failing to benefit from the commercial and operational gains now possible through the integration of new technologies, both on ships and ashore.
'Technology is already redefining our industry,' he said. 'IoT, Machine Learning and Cloud-based Big Data science are revolutionising shipping and shipmanagement processes. They can yield efficiency and transparency for owners, ship suppliers and operators.
'Shipboard and shoreside operations can be made more efficient and cost-effective by bringing in customised technology to cater to the specific needs of our industry.
'But digitalisation is a constantly changing landscape. To be effective and future-proofed, shipping companies need to understand the demands of the modern, digital world and the absolutely transformative nature of technology,' he said.
With 12 offices in six key maritime centres and over 225 vessels under management, Synergy supervises a diverse fleet which includes LPG tankers, chemical tankers, oil tankers (VLCC, Suezmax, Aframax, LR2, LR1 and MR), container vessels in the 1,800 TEU-20,000+ TEU range and every size of bulk carrier.
WORLD SHIPPING
'Shipping has been conservative for far too long,' said Capt Unni. 'It is time for us to welcome change and emerge from the shadows. Technology unlocks potential, but the digital world and digital shipping must be embraced.'
Capt Unni also serves as CEO Alpha Ori Technologies (AOT), established in 2017 to help the maritime sector address many of these challenges.
Critical to AOT's portfolio is SMARTShip, an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that enables the onboard operation of multiple systems with varying degrees of autonomy.
'AOT has already rolled out 30 SMARTShips and has another 60 in the pipeline at various stages of the set-up process,' he said.
Capt Unni said he believes most shipping companies are risk averse and, as a result, are failing to benefit from the commercial and operational gains now possible through the integration of new technologies, both on ships and ashore.
'Technology is already redefining our industry,' he said. 'IoT, Machine Learning and Cloud-based Big Data science are revolutionising shipping and shipmanagement processes. They can yield efficiency and transparency for owners, ship suppliers and operators.
'Shipboard and shoreside operations can be made more efficient and cost-effective by bringing in customised technology to cater to the specific needs of our industry.
'But digitalisation is a constantly changing landscape. To be effective and future-proofed, shipping companies need to understand the demands of the modern, digital world and the absolutely transformative nature of technology,' he said.
With 12 offices in six key maritime centres and over 225 vessels under management, Synergy supervises a diverse fleet which includes LPG tankers, chemical tankers, oil tankers (VLCC, Suezmax, Aframax, LR2, LR1 and MR), container vessels in the 1,800 TEU-20,000+ TEU range and every size of bulk carrier.
WORLD SHIPPING